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The Vincentians dedicate St. Vincent’s Nursery School in Kibera! |
Shoes worn by children in Kenya | The Vincentians serve over 160,000 gallons of water to more than 10,000 people annually. |
The Vincentians Serve the Poor in Kenya, East Africa
Have you ever heard of Kibera? You will not find it on any map or globe, but it is there – right in the heart of Nairobi in Kenya – a massive slum of nearly 900,000 people. Its sole infrastructure are the tens of thousands of mud huts and scrap tin huts. There are no legal protections for any one or any thing, just individuals and families living right on top of each other, barely surviving. Most of them are fellow Christians.
Few people would see Kibera as anything but an open sore on the face of an already wounded land.
The Kibera slum in Nairobi, East Africa, is the 2nd largest slum in the world.
But the priests and brothers of the Congregation of the Mission see much more. Among God’s children in Kibera we see the faces of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Their poverty is our call to love, and it is with a joy-filled love that we have begun to answer.
Father Gary Mueller, CM, visits St. Vincent nursery school
Two years ago, the Vincentian Family opened St. Vincent’s nursery school in the heart of the Kibera slum. There are 100 children enrolled in the daycare center. St. Vincent’s is a simple ministry dedicated to providing food, clothing, and early education to children, mostly orphans, whose smiles show their deep joy and spirit of hope. At the dedication of the new school, a special treat of cake and orange soda was served. The children were so happy to have a cake that they even gathered crumbs in their hands – and shared the crumbs with each other.
A little girl of about seven years wandered in during the celebration. She walked on the folded-over heels of her shoes because they were too small for her feet! The Vincentians offered her some food, and hungry as she was, she first bowed her head and prayed. Not a few hurried words like you might expect, but a seemingly deep and heartfelt outpouring of thanks. For nearly two minutes she prayed in silence before taking a bite. God’s presence was so strong there!
St. Vincent’s nursery school in the Kibera slum is only one small part of the Vincentian’s mission in Kenya. The priests and brothers serving the poor in Kenya also assist with:
- seminary education at the DePaul Centre in Nairobi;
- pastoral and sacramental ministry at Holy Cross Parish in Thigio and St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Kamulu;
- primary education for the poorest children;
- woodworking and other vocational training so that men and women can support their families;
- food, clothing, and clean water.
Many Kenyan children go days
without food
Join Us in the Kenya Mission
Relying on Providence, the Vincentian priests and brothers look to good and generous friends who understand and will respond. Your dollars go so very far in countries like Kenya! Please take a moment today to reach out to the Vincentians who are dedicating their lives to serving Christ in others in our mission.
Your generosity pays tribute to St. Vincent de Paul, founder of the Congregation of the Mission, who left the Vincentians the mission to serve the poor. He said “set people’s hearts ablaze, do what the Son of God did, light a fire on earth to set it aflame with His love.”
Today, you are asked to prayerfully share in the Kenya mission. Please consider a special financial sacrifice so the Vincentians can expand their work providing hope and care where they are so desperately needed.
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The DePaul Woodworking Program teaches men and women a trade. |
Newly ordained Father John Musolo Ochola, CM.(First row, second from the right) |
Approximately 100,000 children are orphaned in the Kibera slum |
For more information on making a contribution, please contact:
Congregation of the Mission Midwest Province
Ms. Teresa R. Manna
Director of Development
13663 Rider Trail North
Earth City, MO 63045-1512
314-344-1184
314-344-2989 Fax
Contact the Director of Development
The legal title for the Vincentians is:
Congregation of the Mission Midwest Province
